Cooling apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet l J. F. PLUMMER, JR

COOLING APPARATUS Filed July 8,-l944 E INVENTOR tibia/12.27.7173ummet'rv.

HIS ATTORNEY.

Oct. 22, 1946. .1. F. PLUMMER, ,JR

COOLING APPARATUS Filed July 8, 1944 2 Sheets-Shee.. 2

QUI 11H/IW i 72W m W .e \4 6 v 3 x d, w fd L\ll I Nw, 0 i.. F. 4 4 M HlSATTORNEY- Patented Oct. 22, 1946 oooLING APPARATUS John F. Plummer, Jr.,Phllipsburg, N. J., assigner" to Ingersoll-Rand Company, New York, N.Y., a

Y corporation of New Jersey l Application July s, 1944, seri-a1 No.543,983

(c1. cs2-+152) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to cooling devices, and more particularly toapparatus for the evaporative cooling of liquids, such as distillersmash and the like, which have a marked tendency to foam during thecooling process.

One object of the invention is to effect the rapid cooling of theliquid.

Another object is to utilize the liquid being cooled as a sealing mediumbetween successive stages of cooling.

A further object is to entirely dissipate any foam which forms duringthe cooling process and avoid collecting it in the liquid during itspassage through the cooling apparatus. A

Other objects will be in part obvious and in ,part pointed outhereinafter.

In the drawings accompanying this speciiication and in which similarreference numerals refer to similar parts,

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly broken away,

of a cooling apparatus and its controlling devices constructed andarranged in accordance with the practice of thel invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse view taken through Figure l on the line 2 2,

Figure 3 is an elevation,` partly broken away, of a detail illustratingthe manner in which the liquid is projected throughthe cooling chamberswhenever the cooling apparatus is operating at or near full capacity,-

Figure Il` is a transverse view taken through Figure Bion the line 4 4,

Figure 5 is` a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating the course and thestream pattern of the fluid within the cooling chambers whenever thecooling apparatus is operating at reduced capacity, and

Figure 6 is a transverse view taken through Figure 5 on the line 6 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

`the cooling apparatus, designated in its entirety by 2li, comprises amain cooling unit 2| and evacuating means, designated broadly 22, forcreating the required absolute pressures in certain zones of the maincooling unit for reducing the temperature of liquid by evaporization.

The cooling unit 2| comprises an elongated casing 23 that is arranged ina vertical position so that the liquid will iiow therethrough bygravity. Liquid intended to be cooled is conveyed from a source ofsupply (not shown) by a supply conduit 24 extending into the upperportion of the casing and having a nozzle 25that depends axially intothe casing. At the lower end of the casing is an outlet 26 that opensinto a discharge conduit 2l having a pump 28 arranged therein forpumping the liquid from the cooling unit.

. In the form of the invention shown, the interlor of the casing 23 isarranged for three stages ofv cooling.` It accordingly has a primarycooling chamber 29 at its upper end, a secondary cooling chamber 30below the primary chamber, and at the lower end a iinal stage coolingchamber 3| which communicates `with the discharge conduit 21 through theoutlet 26.

The partitions 32 and 33 separating the cooling chambers are of funnelshape. Their marginal portions 34 engage the inner surface of the casing23 and may be connected thereto in sealing relationship in any suitablemanner. `The nozzle 35 depending from the axial portion of eachpartition has la restricted portion 36 at its outlet end to at all timesassure a suliicient depth of liquid in the nozzles for sealing onechamber from the other.` The outlet end portion 31 of the nozzle25 islikewise restricted to reduce the flow yarea of that portion of thenozzle 25 below that of the conduit 24 andthus create the velocityrequired to distribute the liquid in the desired fform.

, the chambers will impinge against the deflectors 38 and flow smoothlyacross them with a minimum loss of velocityin order to form thin sheetsor curtains of liquid having a high ratio of surface area to filmthickness.

The deilectors 38 are supported by the nozzles. They'are secured tothese parts by a group of baiiles 39, preferably three in number, thatmay be fastened to the deflectors and to the nozzles in any well knownmanner, as for example by welding. The baffles 39 extend from thenozzles radially to the marginal portions of the deflectors and they areof substantially V-shape to cause the formation of similarly .shapedgaps in the curtain of liquid flowing from the deflector toward the wallof the casing. In this way are provided openings in the liquid throughwhich vapor released from the underside of the several sheets may passinto the upper Zones of the chambers for removal by the evacuatingmeans. Normally,` when operating at full capacity the velocity of theliquid flowing across the dellectors booster 41.-

and radially through the chambers is sufficiently high to carry it tothe wall of the casing whereby it will be deflected in a downwardlydirection, in a manner'indicated at tin Figure 3 of the drawings,with-.a minimum .degree of turbulenceand 'splashing and, therefore, witha minimum tendency to create bubbles and foam in the streams.

The liquid will then flow downwardly along the wall of the casing ontoand across the adjacent partition and then pass through. the associatednozzle into the next chamber.v

At part load operation, on the velocity of the liquid across thedeflectors and through the chambers will, of course, be less and thesheets would then tend to drop directly upon low portions of thepartitions and create bubbles that mightbe carriedintothe evacuatingmeans.

This; would be highly objectionable, and in order to avoidfitsvoccurrence each chamber is provided with; an additionalfdeflectorlll located between the delectors k3 8' and the partitions separatingthe chambers.A` y y The deiiectors .4l Vare-of'frusto-.conical shape.Their gbasesare of smaller diameter than the casingito permitthe freeiiow of liquid between the two and seat upon racks 424constructed of aplurality of radiallyextending arms, the outer ends ofgwhichmay befastened to the casing in any; suitablev manner..Y In the upper ends ofthe .deflectors 4iarej openings43 through which vapor that might be Vvreleased from the liquid iicwing Vacross thepartitionslmay ypass intothe upper portions oi` the cooling chambers.

, In the form shown,y the evacuating means 22 comprises a condenserllofthe .barometric type that communicates withthe chamber 29 through aconduit v45 attached toa connection 45 at the upper end of Vthecharnber'29 so that the vapor released from the liquid in. said chamber may passdirectly through the conduit 45 into .the condenser lill. The chambers35 and 3l are evacuated, re-

other hand, the

specti-vely, by steam jet boosters 41 and 43 that 'dischargethrough theconduit 45 to the condenser;l v. y Y

vThe' booster `'l1 communicates with the chamber l 3Bthrough5-agconduit49 connected to the uppers V:end of such chamber., In likemanner, thebooster 58" commuiflicat'esv with the uppen end of the chamber 3lthroughia conduit 5U, and the steam Vforoperating the boosters isconveyed thereto by f' a Ysupply conduit 5l Yconnected to the booster 48and* having arbranch line 52 .extending to the To the end thatthedesired vapor pressures -fmay b'e maintained inthe chambers r3l!! and 3l.the vapor outlet conduits lig and 5l) are eachvpro-,H4 vided withVadamper 53, ofl the oscillatory plate type,. connected by appropriatelinkage 54 to a pressure responsive actuator 55 whereby the `I damper isshifted to its controlling positions. The actuator: 55 may be of a wellknown type and the pressure serving to operate it is conveyed theretobya conduit 56 connected at vone end `to the actuator 55andfat its otherend to the casing 23 for communication vwith the associated cooling*.chamber, .'Thegdampers and their actuating de-f` vicesaresoarranged-and operate in such manner :that upon an increase ofpressure in the cooling 'chambersthe dampers will be shifted topositions vto-increase .the ilowfarea around them and, conversely, whenthe pressurein the chambers falls 2 the actuator 55 acting in responsethereto will shift the damper to decrease the area of communicationbetween the cooling chambers and the boosters.

In addition to such means as may be provided for manually controllingthe iiow of cooling water Y to the condenser 44 through the supplyconduit 51 controller 6D has the usual tube 6I terminating at its lowerend in a bulb 52 containing an eX- pansible medium, as for example'mercury. The tube 6l 4 extendsl intof the chamber 29 across theuppersuriac ofthe partition 32 and its bulb 62 lieswithin the nozzle 35of said partition so that it will bein" position for intimate contactwith the liquid passing through the nozzle. In this way the pressure ofthe mercury for actuating the controiler t@ may vary in quick responseto variationsjin the temperature of the liquid passing from the'chaniberto the chamber 30; l

, By reasonoffthis arrangement the valve 58 will be actuated forincreasing the 'flow of water through the Yconduit` 51 intothec'ondenser-M if the temperature of the-liquid `passingfromjthe rststage of ,cooling exceeds that Awhichv itis Vintended to .maintain andwhenever the temperature of the liquid flowing over the bulb 62 fallsbelow the kpredetermined valuet the actuator will shift the Valve 58 todecrease the flow of water into the condenser. i

The steam supply conduit 5I is also provided with a poppet valve 63 anda temperatureactuated controller @Il for actuating it to shut-oiT--thesteam supply to the boosterswhenever the tem'- perature of theliquidinthe cooling chamber-.3l reaches a value at which thecreation offoam might take place. The tube 650i the controller Sfl extends into thelowermost portion ofthe chamber 3l so that its bulbVS will be immersedinthe liquid therein. v f

The liquid in the chamber 3| is maintained at a suitable level to assureimmersion of the bulb 66 and also to maintain a'suitabl'e suction headfory the pump 28, in order to avoid cavitation therein, by a poppetvalve51 arranged in the dis- 7 chargeconduit ofthe pump; The stem 690imunication with the lower end of the Ycooling chamber 3| through aconduit 13 to permit the free passage of liquid from the chamber 3l intoe *y he float chamber 12 inorderto maintain Ythe same levelof liquid inthe float chamber that exists in the chamber 3l.

One arm of the rocker 10 lies' within the ioat chamber 12 and carries abulb'14 :that rises and falls with the liquid in the float chamber andthereby imparts movement to the valve 61 for controlling the ilow ofliquid through the discharge pipe |58,` A conduit 15 aiordsV communicai'`tionvbetween the upper portion of the chamber 12 and .the chamber 3lV-to assure'the same pressureY upon the liquid in the oat chamber 12 asthatin the chamber 3 i.

In cooling certain hot liquids by `evaporation in a high vacuum, it isof extreme importance ito jguardagainst the accumulation of aconsiderable body `of liquid at any point lin the cooling "apparatus.This is particularly true to distillers mash which foams profusely whenexposed to a sudden rise in temperature lor an abrupt drop in pressureand it is, therefore, desirable that Whenever these unfavorableconditions occur the admission of liquid -into the cooling apparatus tobe promptly cut-01T, otherwise foam may be carried into the evacuatingdevices and to the liquid removal pump and cause the latter to becomevaporbound. In furtherance of this end the liquid supply conduit 24 isprovided with a control valve mechanism comprising a 4casing 7S that isinterposed in said -conduit and houses a valve 'H of 4the poppet type.The valve l1 is urged towards its closed position by a spring T8, and onits s-tem 'I9 is a piston 88 having an actuating surface 8| at itsjuncture with the stem subjected to pressure fluid for opening the valveto maintain a suitable now area through the casing i6.

The pressure iluid serving to actuate the valve 11 is conveyed to thecasing i6 by -a pipe 82 connected to lthe casing l'6 at a point betweenthe valve and the piston 88, and the now of pressure iiuid through thepipe 82 is metered by an orice plate 83 in said pipe.

In order to effect the quick release of pressure iluid acting againstthe surface 8| in the event that the temperature of the liquid in thelowermost cooling chamber 3| rises to a dangerous degree, the pipe 82 ispr-ovided with means that acts in response to a rising temperature inthe chamber 3| for venting the portion of the pipe between the oriceplate 83 and the actuating surface 8| to the atmosphere. This pressurereleasing means, designated in general by Bil, comprises a valve casing85 the interior 85 of which communicates the pipe 82, through aconnection 8l, with the atmosphere and is controlled by a poppet valve88. The valve 88 is actuated by a temperature actuated controller 89which is similar in all essential respects -to those designated 68 and64 `and has a cond-uit 88 that opens into the tube 65 of the controller64.

Thus, by the arrangement described, Whenever the temperature within thechamber 3| rises the expansible medium within the bulb 6 6 will, inaddition to its function previously described, open the poppet valve 88and provide an escape for the pressure fluid between the orice plate 83and the actuating surface 8|. In this connection7 it should beunderstood that the flow area through the valve casing 85 is at leastequal to that of the orifice in the plate 83 so that the pressuresurface 8l Will be fully vented to the atmosphere and the spring 'I8 maythen return the valve 'il to its closed position and cut-off theadmission of fluid into the casing 23.

Preferably, means are also provided to vent the same portion of the pipe82 to the atmosphere in response to a rising level of liquid, or foam,in the chamber 3|. To this end a second pressure releasing means 8|,similar to that designated 84, is connected to the pipe above theorifice plate 83 by a connection 92, and .the free end of the stem 93 ofthe poppet valve 94 controlling communication between the pipe 82 Vandthe atmosphere is pivotally connected to an end of a rocker bar 85.

The rocker bar 95 :is connected, as by means of a pivot pin 96,intermediate its ends to the wall 91 of a float chamber 98 on the sideof the lowermost portion of the casing 23. The float chamber 98communicates with the chamber 3| through an opening 98 and is sopositioned with respect thereto that its bottom surface liesapproximately in the same plane as the normal liquid level in thechamber 3|. The innermost arm portion |00 of the bar 95 lies in theintermediate portion G of the chamber 88 and carries a bulb or float||l| a short distance above the liquid and against which rising liquid,or foam, may act for tilting the rocker bar 85 to unseat .the valve 94.

In order Ito admit of ready access to the several chambers 29, 38 and 3|for the purpose of making inspections, repairs, etc., each cooling`chamber is provided with a manhole |82 that is sealed by a cover |83.

The operation of the device is as follows: LetV it be assumed that thecondenser fili and the boosters 41 and 138 are in operation to evacuatethe chambers 2S, 3U and 3|, respectively, for maintaining progressivelylower vabsolute pressures in said chambers in the order named, and thatthe valve ll is held in the open position by pressure fluid -actingagainst the actuating surface 8|. Liquid will then liow through theconduit 24 against the deflector 38 in the chamber 29 and will bediverted thereby against the Wall of the casing 23 when operating atfull capacity or will be deflected to fall upon .the deilectors 4| whenoperating at reduced capacity. In either case the liquid ows across andfrom the deilectors 38 to the next deiiecting surface in the form of.three thin sheets, as shown more particularly in Figures 3 to 6inclusive of the drawings.

During its passage through the chamber 2Q vapor is liberated from boththe upper and the lower surfaces of the sheets and the Vapor releasedfrom the undersides of the sheets passes through the gaps between thesheets of liquid to pass, along with that released on the upper sides,through the conduit into the condenser lill. Upon reaching the wall ofthe casing 23 the sheets of liquid are deileoted thereby and will thenflow over the partition 32 and through its nozzle S5 into the chamber38. I

This sequence of events is repeated in the chamber Sil and again in thechamber 3| with the exceptions that in the latter chamber the cooledliquid is added to the body awaiting removal by the pump 2S, and thevapors are removed from l the chambers 3i! and 3| by the boosters.

In vpassing from one cooling chamber to another, the liquid will effecta seal in each .nozzle 35 and thus make it possible to maintain thedesired pressure differentials in the cooling chambers.

The actuators will, as has been previously explained, act in response tothe fluctuations in the cooling chambers wherewith they are associatedto shift the dempers for increasing or decreasing the flow area throughthe conduits d5 and l to assure the desired vapor pressures in thecooling chambers 38 and 3 If, for any reason, the temperature or" theliquid in the casing 23 is caused to rise, as when the pressure of thesteam operating the boosters is of an insufhcient value to maintain therequired vacuum in the casing, the mercury in the bulb 5i; will expandand actuate the valves t3 and 88. The valve E53 will be moved thereby toits closed position to cut-off the ilow of steam `to the boosters, sothat if foam is created in the bottom .portion oi' the cooling apparatusthe boosters will be put out ofV operation before foam may be drawn intothe evacuating means. The valve will remain in the closed position aslong as the teinperature of the `liquid in the chamber 3i remains high,and in this Way the boosters will be prevented rorn acting to suddenlylower the pressure on the hot liquid in the said chamber and therebycause the creation of a large volume of foam.

Simultaneously with the closing of the valve 53 the valve 88 will beunseated to communicate the pipe 82 with the atmosphere. In this way thepressure acting against the surface 8| of the .piston 8S will bereleased and the spring 'E8 will then act to move the Valve 'H to itsclosed posi- Y tion and cut-off the further flow of hot liquid into thecooling apparatus. y

In the event that the liquid level in the chamber 3l rises unduly orthat foam is created and rises in said chamber before the temperatureactuated controller 8S may act, such liquid or foam acting against theiioat Il will raise it and cause the valve iii to be unseated forcommunicating the pipe t2 with the atmosphere. The pressure normallyholding the valve 'il open will then be re leased so that the spring 18may act to move the valve 'Vl to its closed position.

As will be readily understood from the foregoing description, the liquidis delivered to the cooling chambers only in the form of thin sheetsthat are suitably spaced with respect to each other so that vapor may bewithdrawn from the entire surface area of each sheet, and the vaporreleased from the undersides of the sheets of liquid may readily passupwardly between the sheets for removal to the condensing apparatus.

Moreover, the liquid enters each chamber with such a large ratio ofevaporation surface compared to the thickness of the sheet thatvirtually all cooling takes place and all foam created by theprogressive reduction in pressure is immediately dissipated beforeliquid reaches the walls of the chamber or is allowed to collect in anypart of the apparatus. The liquid,moreover, is gently deflected at eachturning point, during its course through the cooling apparatus, in sucha wayas to preclude the creation of foam or vapor bubbles in the liquidthat would interfere with the operation of the removal pump or theinterstage seals.

Furthermore, the entire apparatus is so con structed and its parts areso arranged that it is nonclogging and self draining throughout and thusis well adapted for cooling any liquids such as distillers mash whichmay contain suspended solids.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for cooling a liquid by evaporation, comprising a casinghaving a cooling chamber and a discharge opening, means for creating asufficiently low pressure in the vchamber to cause the liberation ofvapor from the liquid7 conduit means for introducing liquid into thechamber, and deflector means lying across the outlet end of the conduitmeans in spaced relation therewith to cause the liquid to flow throughthe chamber in the form or" a sheet, a divider to cause the formation ofan opening in such sheet of liquid for the passage of vapor from oneside to another of the sheet.

2. Inapparatus for cooling a liquid by evaporation, comprising a casinghaving a cooling chamber and a discharge opening therefor, means forcreating a sufficiently low pressure in the chamber to cause theliberation of vapor from the liquid, and a conduit for introducingliquid into the axial zone of the chamber, a plurality of dividers inthe chamber adjacent the outlet end of the conduit to direct the liquidradially through the chamber in the form of a plurality of relativelyspaced sheets.

3. In apparatus for cooling a liquid by evaporation, comprising aAcasing having a cooling chamber and a discharge opening therefor, meansfor creating a sufficiently low pressure in the chamber to cause theliberation of vapor from .the liquid, a conduit for introducing liquidinto the chamber, and a disk having Va at surface lying in front of theoutlet opening of the conduit to direct the liquid radially through thechamber, a divider on the disk to separate the liquid into a pluralityof relatively spaced, thin sheets. Y

4. In apparatus for cooling a liquid, comprising a vertical casinghaving a plurality of chambers to receive the liquid successively forcooling it by evaporation, a conduit for transferring the liquid bygravity from one chamber to another, and means in front of the outletopening of the conduit in spaced relation therewith to deflect theliquid radially from the conduit in the form. of a sheet, a, divider forcausing the formation of a radially extending gap in such sheet toprovide a vapor path through the liquid, and a restricted portion in theconduit to restrict the iiow of liquid therethrough for maintaining Valiquid seal between the chambers.

5. Apparatus for cooling liquid, comprising a vertical casing having aplurality of chambers to receive the liquid successively for cooling itby evaporation, conduit means for( conveying liquid `from a source ofsupply to the uppermost oi the chambers, conduit means for transferringthe liquid from one chamber to another and each conduit means having aportion of reduced flow area to restrict the flow of liquid therethroughand thereby maintain a liquid seal in the conduit means, means in irontof the outlet openings of the conduit means in spaced relation therewithto deflect the liquid radially from the conduit means in the form of aplurality of Yrelatively spaced sheets, a valve for controlling the iiowof liquid through the iirst mentioned conduit, and a plurality ofcontrolling means for controlling the valve, one of said means acting inresponse to a predetermined level and another means acting in responseto a predetermined temperature of the liquid in the lowermost vacu umchamber. y

6. Apparatus for cooling liquid, comprising a vertical casing having aplurality of chambers to receive liquid successively for cooling it byevaporation, partitions between the chambers, conduit means forconveying liquid from a source of supply to the uppermost of thechambers, ccnduit means depending from the partitions into the chambersfor transferring the liquid from one chamber to another and each conduitmeans havinga portion of reduced ilow area to restrict the flow ofliquid therethrough and thereby maintain a liquid seal in the conduitmeans, means in front of the outlet openings of the conduit means inspaced relation therewith to deect the liquid radially from the conduitmeans in the form of a plurality of relatively spaced sheets, a valvefor` controlling the flow of liquid through the first mentioned conduit,and means operating in response to the pressures in certain of thechambers for maintaining the desired cooling ranges therein.

7. Apparatus for cooling liquid, comprising a vertical casing having aplurality of chambers to receive the liquid successively for cooling itby evaporation, conduit means for conveying liquid from a source ofsupply to the uppermost of the chambers, conduit means for transferringthe liquid from one chamber to another and each conduit means having aportion of reduced iiow area to restrict the flow of liquid therethroughand thereby maintain a liquid seal in the conduit means, means in frontof the outlet openings or the conduit means in spaced relation therewith5 to deflect the liquid radially from the conduit means in the form of aplurality of relatively spaced sheets, a Valve for controlling the ow ofliquid through the first mentioned conduit, a

